A Biography of Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)

Citizen Hamilton (1782-1789)

Hamilton's letter to Robert Morris had not been a wasted effort. Upon
hearing of Hamilton's recent availability, Morris appointed him
Continental receiver of taxes for the state of New York in April of 1782.
Hamilton also began studying law in Albany in May, and within six months had
completed a three year course of studies, passed his examinations, and was
admitted to the New York bar. If he did not have a full enough plate already,
Hamilton was appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress. With tongue in
cheek, Hamilton summarized his activities in a letter to Lafayette, then in
Paris:

"I have been employed for the last ten months in rocking the cradle and
studying the art of fleecing my neighbours. I am now a Grave Counsellor at
law, and shall soon be a grand member of Congress. The Legislature at their
last session took it into their heads to name me pretty unanimously one of
their delegates."

Hamilton went to Philadelphia in November of 1782 with the pocketful of
reforms he had collected while in the army and during his recent stint as
Continental tax receiver with no authority to collect the money due him, and
only excuses forthcoming from state collection agents. Happily, Hamilton
found that he was not the only disgruntled representative in congress; he
soon found a kindred spirit in fellow delegate James Madison.

On the table were urgent issues to discuss. Rhode Island's resistance of
the impost, which was preventing the passage of the law; and an army
petition for back pay and half-pay pensions. Committees were created to deal
with these problems, and Hamilton was appointed to both.

The impost was crushed when Virginia withdrew its
support; and meanwhile
the army situation reached crisis proportions. While congress debated the
terms of payment--whether the states should pay their armies, or whether
Congress should pay with continental securities--mutinies began to spring up
around the country in early 1783, and by June, General Anthony Wayne's
mutinying troops were knocking on congress's door. The delegates moved
their operation to Princeton New Jersey.

Hamilton, who shared the army's frustrations, decided to leave congress.
Before he returned to New York, he penned a document enumerating the
inefficiencies of the confederation government, once again calling for a
convention to amend the Articles of Confederation. It probably came as no
surprise to Hamilton that his suggestions were not considered by his fellow
congressmen. He noted on his copy of the resolution, "abandoned for want
of support."